OK,
I've been sampling a few loose leaf tea's now and here's where I stand.
- I have been to my local tea shop a few times now. But I'm only going to get limited info from the owner of the shop, she isn't going to tell me a lot about where to get good tea, unless it's through her. I don't think she knows a lot either, to tell the truth.
- I like black tea, I'm not a green tea drinker yet.
- I like sugar and milk.
- So far I've only tried a few loose leaf teas. Some blends.
- I've tried a couple Assam's, a Darjeeling, a couple of breakfast blends etc..
- All the tea I've tried so far is from this local tea shop, (a small crafters booth) and the grocery store.
- All the loose leaf tea I've tried is in the .00 per 1/4 lb. price range.
- I've ordered some tea's from Upton's.
- Still within the price range of around .00 per 1/4 lb.
- I like Earl Grey a lot.
- I just posted a similar post.
OK, so here it is. I don't have anyone local to talk to about tea. No one I know is serious about tea at all. Everyone I know is a teabag drinker. Even the "tea lady" at the local tea store doesn't seem to know a lot and is unwilling to take me "under her wing." Sort to speak.
This is what I want to accomplish.
I want to be able to have friends over and for them to be able to "notice" a difference in what they're drinking then from what they are used to.
I'm not trying to impress, I just want to be the "tea guy." The guy who knows good tea.
But I can't seem to find what I'm looking for online.
Out of all the tea's I've tried, I can't tell the difference between the bag teas I get from the grocery store, i.e., Twinings and Stash and yes, Lipton's then the loose leaf tea that I have bought.
OK but here are a couple of things.
- I am still a novice.
- I put sugar and milk in my tea.
- I drink black tea.
- I have never tried a tea (bag or loose) that has been more then around .00 per 1/4 lb.
So I have to assume that maybe I just haven't "experienced" a good tea yet?
After reading "Why are some teas expensive and others cheap?" from "The Tea Man" at 'Why are some teas expensive and others cheap?'
So If someone with a kind soul would take pity on me and lead me into the light I would appreciate it very much.
Please understand, I know absolutely nothing about tea. I've read "The Tea Companion" and I've been to almost every Tea Site out there and I keep reading over and over that loose leaf is way better then bag.
Well I want to experience that, but so far I haven't.
The Darjeeling that I had was pretty good and it did taste different then the breakfast blends and the Assam's that I tried.
I did like the Darjeeling a lot. I was lighter and smoother. It was good. But honestly, Lipton's loose leaf is pretty good to me also.
So what does this say? Does this say that my taste buds are shot? "Hey this guy thinks Lipton Tea is good! Har Har Har!"
Or does this say that I'm still drinking cheap tea?
Do I have to pay for a more "noticeable" finer cuppa tea?
Should I start buying some of the $20.00-$60.00 per 1/4 lb. tea from Uptons?
Anyway, that's my problem. So if someone could just show me the way to good tea, I would be most appreciative.
But if it's the situation where, because I'm using sugar and milk and I'm drinking black tea and there's not much major differences between taste in this type of tea drinking, then I'm just going to stick with buying Lipton's loose leaf at $3.28 per 1/2 lb. Because I can save a whole lot of money doing it that way.
But if this last statement makes anyone "cringe" and feel sorry for me, then please set me straight. :)
As you can see, I need help. :)
Thanks.
Dave.